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INSTITUTE OF SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY — PUBLICATION NO. 13 



When cane is planted on a small scale, it is incor- 

 porated in the milpa, but if the quantity is con- 

 siderable, it is grown in a separate plot. Vanilla 

 is raised in the thickets of monte bajo and ordi- 

 narily does not share the field "with other cultivates, 

 but occasionally there is a scattering of vanilla in 

 the milpa. Usually, a little garden adjacent to the 

 family dwelling has a few fruit trees and an 

 assortment of other useful plants, as well as 

 flowers; but by and large, most of the cultivated 

 plants are found in the milpa. Accordingly, the 

 latter differs somewhat from our usual notions 

 of a cornfield, and several descriptions follow : 



a. Antonio Bautista made a sketch of his fields for us, 

 a copy of which is shown in figure 8. His drawing is not 



trees are dotted here and there. In addition, wild cliili, 

 tomato, and another solanum (Nos. 214, 24, G) have been 

 tenderly preserved in the course of cultivation. The en- 

 tire assortment is interspersed and gives the impression 

 of complete confusion. In all truth, this miscellany might 

 better be considered a kitchen garden than a milpa, for 

 the family's chief maize plantings are elsewhere. 



c. Pedro Perez likewise has two maize fields, a small 

 one near the house, and a larger one, somewhat more 

 distant. The small plot contains a varied assortment, in- 

 cluding a patch of zinnias. 



His chief maize crop comes from the larger field, situ- 

 ated on the east slope of a hill. Along the crest of the 

 latter, and enclosing the entire field, is a row of banana 

 trees. He is contemplating a shift in crops, from maize 

 to cane, hence has planted the latter between the rows of 

 maize. The cane still is small, but in another year, it will 

 require the entire field. 



Figure 8. — A typical field. 



From a sketch of his plantings, drawn by Antonio Bautista. 

 of symbols and have given approximate orientation. 



We have added the explanation 



to scale, but he estimates his milpa to contain 1.5 

 hectares, his cane field, 1, and his vanilla plantings, 2.5. 



The sketch gives a good idea of the relationship between 

 the milpa and the other plantings. Scattered among the 

 maize plants there is a bit of cane, plus four banana 

 trees, one orange, and three cultivated pawpaws. In addi- 

 tion, but not shown in the sketch, there is a plant of sweet 

 manioc. 



b. A small field belonging to Magdaleno Mehdez oc- 

 cupies a steep slope adjacent to his house. It is pre- 

 dominantly given over to corn, which is dispersed, not in 

 rows. In addition, the field boasts two squash plants 

 and (probably one) sweetpotato; three or four mustard 

 plants and about the same number each of beans and of 

 a cultivated legume called chipila (No. 91). A few banana 



d. The field of Itosalino Gonzalez is on a slope which 

 faces west and its content is more heterogeneous than any 

 of the preceding milpas. A rough sketch of it is shown 

 in figure 9, whose legend indicates what plants are domi- 

 nant in each section. 



Although the maize is planted in rows, the spacing is 

 uneven. The distance between the east-west rows ranges 

 from 0.95 to 1.40 in., and in this uneven strip, beans (frijol 

 majaydn) have been planted. 



Scattered throughout the maize, in no discernible order, 

 are the following: 



Cultivates : papaya, sweet manioc, sweetpotato, onion, 

 cebollina (related to the onion; literally, "little onion"), 

 garlic, goosefoot (No. 75), mint {hierbabuena) , and cori- 

 ander. 



